Description: The project is carried out in close cooperation with the Municipality of Sgonico - Zgonik and examines the naturalistic, cultural and social aspects of Karst as well as the open approach to intercultural processes and contacts between rural and urban milieus. In order to safeguard and enhance the environment and the natural resources available, the project starts with the creation on the municipal territory of a network of routes, part of which unwinds across SCI - Sites of Community Importance. The interventions regard part of the Naturalistic Route in the Natural Reserve of Monte Lanaro - Volnik, the Sanctuary of Monrupino - Tabor and Mount Orsario - Medvedjak. It further consists of a preliminary study of the planning elements that are functional to SCI management plans, to the definition of thematic cartography to be used to draw up the Conservation and Development Plan of the Regional Natural Reserve of Mount Orsario, and, as regards the fauna, a study to monitor the population of wild cats (Felis silvestris), a species that in this Karst area reaches its peak in terms of units present and represent, therefore, an asset to be studied to ensure that it has a future. The project also aims at maintaining the forest tracks, setting up a joint technical team, coordinating the civil protection teams of Partner Municipalities in case of fires and integrating with other projects regarding the development of Karst implemented in Slovenian territory. The project aims therefore at a coordinated territorial and environmental planning, in order to ensure an efficient management of the available natural resources. The local population plays a vital role in the process of resource enhancement and preservation - targeted at the economic, ecofunctional and environmentally sustainable development of the territory - with the objective of preserving a naturalistic and cultural heritage that is rich in traditions, arts and crafts to be handed down to future generations.

Project data begin: July 2003

Project data end: May 2008

Approved costs: 400.000 €

List of beneficiaries

The list of beneficiaries, the names of providers and their projects, and the amount of public funding for projects is being made publicly available, each year in February, in line with Article 7 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1828/2006 and the European Transparency Initiative (COCOF April 23, 2008).